JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – After missing out on the AFCA Preseason Coaches' Poll for the first time in the poll's 11 years, the Carson-Newman Eagles jumped into the poll at No. 20 after a season-opening win.
The Eagles received 144 points in the poll.
Carson-Newman opened its season with a 45-20 win on Thursday night over Glenville State in Glenville, W.Va. The Eagles overcame four first-quarter turnovers to rush for 276 yards and six touchdowns
The Eagles are joined in the poll by South Atlantic Conference favorite Wingate at No.23. The Bulldogs lost to No. 14 Valdosta State, 34-38, in double overtime on Saturday. Sac foes Tusculum, Lenoir-Rhyne, and Mars Hill are all list in receiving votes.
Carson-Newman puts its No. 20 ranking on the line in its 2011 home opener on Thursday night, as the Eagle host Fayetteville State (N.C.). Kickoff is at 7 p.m. in Burke-Tarr Stadium. For tickets, call (865) 471-3396.
| AFCA Coaches Poll - 9/5 | |||||
| Rank | School | Rec | Pts | Last |
Last Game |
| 1. | Minnesota-Duluth (28) | 1-0 | 724 | 1 | D. No. 8 Augustana (S.D.), 20-12 |
| 2. | Northwest Missouri St. (1) | 1-0 | 693 | 3 | D. Truman St. (Mo.), 65-3 |
| 3. | Abilene Christian (Texas) | 1-0 | 642 | 4 | D. Tarleton St. (Texas), 27-24 |
| 4. | Grand Valley St. (Mich.) | 1-0 | 628 | 5 | D. Western Oregon, 44-20 |
| 5. | North Alabama | 1-0 | 592 | 6 | D. Central Oklahoma, 31-10 |
| 6. | Texas A&M-Kingsville | 1-0 | 576 | 7 | D. No. 22 Central Washington, 21-10 |
| 7. | Albany St. (Ga.) | 1-0 | 509 | 9T | D. Savannah St. (Ga.), 37-34 |
| 8. | Shepherd (W.Va.) | 1-0 | 476 | 11 | D. Shippensburg (Pa.), 53-27 |
| 9. | Bloomsburg (Pa.) | 1-0 | 469 | 9T | D. Ashland (Ohio), 27-20 |
| 10. | St. Cloud State (Minn.) | 1-0 | 420 | 13 | D. No. 12 California (Pa.), 26-3 |
| 11. | Delta St. (Miss.) | 1-1 | 415 | 2 | Lost to Northwestern St. (La.), 24-23 |
| 12. | Central Missouri | 1-0 | 371 | 15 | D. Missouri Southern St., 42-24 |
| 13. | Nebraska-Kearney | 1-0 | 361 | 16 | D. Wayne St. (Neb.), 41-20 |
| 14. | Valdosta St. (Ga.) | 1-0 | 312 | 20 | D. No. 14 Wingate (N.C.), 34-28 2OT |
| 15. | Washburn (Kan.) | 1-0 | 305 | 18 | D. Sioux Falls (S.D.), 33-17 |
| 16. | Augustana (S.D.) | 0-1 | 296 | 8 | Lost to No. 1 Minnesota-Duluth, 20-12 |
| 17. | Wayne St. (Mich.) | 1-0 | 276 | 21 | D. Urbana (Ohio), 69-24 |
| 18. | Mercyhurst (Pa.) | 1-0 | 208 | 17 | D. Notre Dame (Ohio), 24-23 OT |
| 19. | Kutztown (Pa.) | 1-0 | 206 | 23 | D. St. Anselm (N.H.), 56-30 |
| 20. | Carson-Newman (Tenn.) | 1-0 | 144 | NR | D. Glenville St. (W.Va.), 45-20 |
| 21. | Colorado St.-Pueblo | 1-0 | 126 | NR | D. No. 19 West Texas A&M, 26-24 |
| 22. | California (Pa.) | 0-1 | 104 | 12 | Lost to No. 13 St. Cloud State (Minn.), 26-3 |
| 23. | Wingate (N.C.) | 0-1 | 101 | 14 | Lost to No. 20 Valdosta St. (Ga.), 34-28 2OT |
| 24. | Colorado School of Mines | 1-0 | 89 | NR | D. William Jewell (Mo.), 33-0 |
| 25. | Pittsburg St. (Kan.) | 1-0 | 57 | NR | D. Missouri Western St., 34-7 |
